Well pump



sept. 14, 1943. H 1 ANKRATZ 2,329,359

HOWARD J. PANKRATZ.

H. J. PANKRATZ sept. 14,n 1943.7

WELL PUMP Filed Nov. 13, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 INVENTOR Y HOWARD J. FANKRATZ ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 14, l

UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE 2,329,359 l I WELLPUMP Howard JQ rankratz, Bartlesville, Okla., asslgnor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Application November 13, 1941,' S'erialNo. 418,963

(cl. s- 46) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to well pumps, and more particularly it relates to well pumps which utilize fluid under pressure to lift well. fluid.` to the'surface of the ground. j

when a well bore is drilled Into a virgin hydrcarbon-bearing formation it is common to nd that there is suillcient energyl stored in the hydrocarbon fluid to ow thatfluid out of the well bore at'the surface of the ground." However, as'additional wells are drilled into the'formation and' hydrocarbon fluids are removed therefrom, the

tion of the well boreto the' surface of the ground,

or the employment of various mechanical pumping devices. In actual practice in the industry, many wells are equipped with mechanical pumping devices as soon as the wells cease to flow, and many wells, which do not ilow naturally when drilled and completed for the production of hydrocarbon oil, are provided with 4mechanical pumping equipment. This type of equipment may include pumping devices, suchas reciprocating pumps which are actuated bya string of sucker rods; submersible, electrically-driven centrifugal pumps; or hydraulic pumps.

y Prsent-day types oi bottom-hole hydraulic pumps, which depend upon a fluid of high prese Asure for actuation, commonly'have a relatively short stroke, which is controlled by a .valve mech` anism. It has been found that the pressure uid, which actuates the pump and aids in actuating Athe valve mechanism, is greatly `reducedin pressure while operating the valve mechanism. This lowers the operating efficiency of the pump. By the practice of my instant invention I obtain sevmy'pumping .apparatus with a long. stroke; and

further, my instant invention will operate asI satisfactorily by utilizing high pressure gas or air# for a source of energy yas by utilizing high pressure liquid.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a well pumping apparatus which utilizes' fluid under pressure to lift well duid to the surface of the ground.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fluid actuated bottom hole pump which utilizes either a liquid or a gas as pressure uid and which is positively controlled from the ground.

-This invention has for a further object the p rovision. of apparatus of vthe character indicated wherein the pump is controlled vby an arrangement of apparatus that is mechanically actuated vfromthe surface of the ground.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a reciprocating fluid driven pump which Autilizes available energy in the reservoirV and which operates efilciently and economically.

eral advantages 'and economies which are not obl g tainable with present-day pumps:v First, I` am able to fully utilize the available reservoir energy;

next, I employ a positive control means with which I am able to adapt my pumping apparatus to any type I. ofreservoir pumping condition; third, I overcome thel loss of fluid pressure now inherent in present-day' types of bottom-hole fluid-operated pumping apparatus by mechanically controlling my instant pumping apparatus from the surface ofthe ground; also, I may effect i ber, which is positioned in a well bore.

a greater volumetric eillci'ency by constructing 55 y These and additional objects and advantages Will be apparent to persons skilled in the art by reference to the following description and annexed drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is an elevation vview of my invention, partly in cross-section, illustrating the upper portion of the pumping apparatus; I

Figure 2 is an elevation view, partly in crosssection, illustrating the lower portion of my in`- 'vention; 4

Figure 3 is a vertical section 'taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2; and v Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation view, partly in cross-section, illustrating a modification of my instant invention. l l

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, I have denoted therein an outer pump barrel by reference numeral III.

'I'he outer pump barrel is provided tgith a lower seating adapter II and with an upper adapter I2 which is secured at theI top`to an oil well tubing I3 that is supported in a wellbore from the surface of the ground in a known manner. It is to be understood that the term tubing as applied to tubing I3 may be construed to mean an oil well casing or other desired tubular mem- The outer pump barrel I0 contains an inner pump barrel I4, which is positioned concentrically therein by lseating adapters II and I2. The lower end porlsurface of the I is bored in the lower end to form a chamber I9.

A valve chamber 20, which is formed in the lower right hand portion of casting I8, is preferably adapted to receive a threaded ring 2|, which is provided with centrally located valve seat 22` which supports a ball 23. Ball 23 cooperates with seat 22 to allow the flow of Well fluid upwardly from chamber I9 through ring 2|. A port 25, which is provided in casting I8, allows c ommunication between valve chamber 20 and an annulus 26 which is yformed by the inner surface of outer pump barrel l and the outer surface of inner pump barrel I4 between lower adapter II and upper adapter I2. The upper end of casting I8, which is threadedly connected to a cage member 21, having perforations 28, supports a ball check valve 29. Valve 29 permits the flow of fluid upwardlyl through a passage 30 which extends upwardly through casting I8 from chamber I9. A valve containing member 3|, having an opening 32 extending therethrough, is provided with a valve chamber 33, which contains a check valve 34, that permits the flow of a uid upwardly from opening 32. The top of member 3| is threadedly attached to a cylinder 35 having a lower bore 36 and an upper bore 31 which contain a lower piston 38 and an upper piston 39, respectively. The pistons, which reciprocate simultaneously, are connected by a common rod 40 which is in tension during the reciprocation of the pistons. It is to be noted that the lower end of bore 36 connects with opening 32 and that bore 31 communicates with annulus 26 by way of a port 4 I, which is provided in cylinder 35 near the upper end of bore 31. The upper end of bore 31 is adapted to receive a ball check Valve 42 which permits the flow of fluid upwardly from the bore into a fluid chamber 43 which is providedin the upper end of cylinder 35. Cylinder 35 is also provided with a passage 44 which allows communication between fluid chamber 43 and valve chamber 33. drlcal valve body 45, which has a central passage 46, is threadedly connected ,to the upper cylinder 35. Passage 46 provides communication between chamber 43 and an enlarged centrally located opening 41 that is formed in the lower end portion of a cylindrical sleeve 48, which is threadedly secured to the upper end of body 45. Sleeve 48 contains a hollow rotatable shaft 49 having a cam 50 which is formed on its lower end. Sleeve 48 and hollow shaft 49 are provided with a pair of flush shoulders and 52. respectively, which support a suitable bearing 53. The bearing ls held in position on shoulders 5| and 52 by an externally threaded ring 54, which is threadedly positioned in the upper end of sleeve 48 and by an internally threaded ring 55, which is threadedly connected to the upper end of shaft 49. The upper end portion of shaft 49 is also secured to the lower end of an inner string of well tubing 58. Tubing 56, which is provided with a slip joint (not shown), is also preferably supported and rotated at the surface of the ground in a manner disclosed in United States Patent No.

2,202,970. It will be noted in Figure 1 that a. pluralityI of rings 51 are provided on the lower The lower end of a cylin..L

peripheral surface of body 45. These rings, which may be identical in composition to rings I1, form a seal between body 45 and adapter I2, thus closing annulus 26 at the top. An upper annular space 58, which is formed on the interior of tubing I3, extends upwardly from adapter I2 to the surface of the ground.

Referring next to Figures 3 and 4, it will be noted that body 45 is provided with a pair of bores 59 and 60. Bore 59 contains an upper ported member 6I having a valve seat 62 formed on its upper face and a lowerported member 63 having a valve seat 64 formed on its lowerface. An upper valve head 65 anda lower valve head 66 are spaced on a common valve stem 61, which is in sliding engagement with cam at all times. A compression spring 68 of any desired strength is contained concentric with stem 61 in the lower portion of bore 59 beneath a perforate guide ring 69which is preferably secured to valve head 66 and which makes sliding contact with the wall of bore 59. A spider 10 is positioned in the upper part of the bore to guide stem 61, during its substantially vertical movement and to allow cornmunication between bore 59 and opening 41. Bore 68 contains parts which are shown as being identical to those contained in bore 59. This bore contains a spider 1|,`` an upper ported member 12 having a valve seat 13, anda lower ported member 14 having a valve seat 15. A common stem 16 is in Vsliding engagement with cam 5|) and carries a pair of spaced valve heads 11 and 18. A compression spring 19 is positioned concentrically with stem 16 in the lower portion of bore 6|) beneath a perforate guide ring 80, which is preferably secured to valve head 18. It is to be noted that when valve stem klil is fully depressed by cam 50, valve stem 16 is fully raised by the action of spring 19. Thus, the upper valve head on one stem and the lower valve head on the other stem engage their seats at the same time. conduits 8| and 82 which allow communication between annular space 58 and bores 59 and 60, respectively. A duct 83, which extends downwardly through body 45 and cylinder 35, places bore 59 in communication with bore 36. A second duct 84, which also extends downwardly through member 45 and cylinder 35, places bore in communication with bore 31.

In operation, the apparatus of my instant invention is assembled as shown in the drawings and positioned in awell bore. Well fluid in the Nveil bore enters the apparatus through seating nipple I5, from which it flows upwardly into chamber I9. Part of the fluid in the chamber may then now upwardly through passage 30, check valve 29, perforations 28, and opening 32, entering the lower portion of bore 36; or it may flow upwardly from chamber I9 through ring 2|, lifting ball 23 of! seat 22 and thence flowing into valve chamber 2|l, from which the fluid passes through port 25 to annulus 26 where the fluid fills to the top of the annulus. Let us assume that pistons 38 and 39 are just beginning their downward stroke, and that tubing 56 is rotating at a constant rate of speed, rotating hollow shaft |49. Cam 50 on the lower end of the hollow shaft, which is in sliding engagement with valve stems 61 and 16.

depresses stem 61 against the action of spring 68, causing valve head to engage with seat 62 and causing valve head 66 to move olf its seat 64. At the same time, cam 50 allows spring 19 to urge stem 16 upwardly, seating valve head 18 upon seat 15 and unseating valve head 11 from Valve body 45 is provided with a pair of its seat 13. Thus, a pressure fluid, which is supplied through annular space 58 from the surface of the ground, is permitted to flow through conduit 8| into bore 59, and thence through duct 83 to the upper portion of bore 36. At the same time exhaust fluid in the lower portion of bore 31 is permitted to flow upwardly through duct 84, bore 60, and spider 1| into opening 41. As the pressure fluid acts upon the upper end of piston 38, moving pistons 38 and 39 downwardly, well fluid in bore 36 is displaced by piston 38.y The pres-` sure exerted on the well fluid by piston 38 closes check valve 29 and opens check valve 34, allow- Aing fluid from bore 36 to flow downwardly through opening 32 and thence upwardly through chamber 33, passage 44, chamber 43, passage 46, thence to opening 41 where the well fluid mixes with exhaust fluid from bore 31. From opening 41, the mixture of well fluid and exhaust fluid'ilows upwardly through hollow shaft 49 to tubing 56 which conveys the fluid to the surface of the ground. As the pistons movedownwardly, fluid in annulus 26 flows through port 4|; lling bore 31 above piston 39.

When the pistons have completed their downward stroke, tubing 56 has rotated'hollow shaftl 49 to a position whereby cam 58 depresses valve stem 16, seating valve head 11 and unseating valve head 18, permitting pressure fluid from annular space 58 to flow through duct 82, bore 60, duct 84 and thence into the lower portion of bore 31,v where the fluid acting upon the lower end of piston 39 urges pistons 38 and 39 upwardly. At the same time the cam allows spring 68 to raise valve stem 61, unseating valve head 65 and seating valve head 66, whereby fluid which is exhausted from within bore 36 by upward movement of piston 38 flows upwardly through duct `83, bore 59, spider and thence into opening 41. As the pistons move upwardly, piston 39 displaces fluid from within bore 31. The pressure exerted on the well fluid by piston 39 causes the fluid to seat ball 23 on seat 22 and to open check valve 42, allowing the fluid from bore 31 to flow into chamber 43, and thence upwardly through passage 46 into opening 41 where the well fluid mixes with the exhaust fluid from bore 36.r The mixture of exhaust fluid and well fluid thence flows upwardly through hollow shaft 49 and tubing 56 to the surface of the ground. As piston 38 moves r upwardly, well fluid in passage 30 unseats check valve 29 and flows through perforations 28, opening 32, and into bore 36. When the upward stroke of the pistons is completed, cam 50, through the rotation of tubing 56, is again in a position causing valve stem 61 to be depressed and valve stem 16 to be raised. Thus, pressure fluid is again admitted to the upper portion of bore 36 where the fluid acts upon piston 38 urging pistons 38 and 39 downwardly andthe cycle of operation repeated.

It will be noted from Figures 1 and 2 that well fluid may flow upwardly from the lower portion of a. well bore to the surface of the ground by completely by-passing pistons 38 and 39, provided there is sufllcient energy in well fluid. This is accomplished by the fluid flowing upwardly by way of nipple |5, chamber |9, ring 2|, chamber 20, port 25, annulus 26, port 4|, bore 31, and chamber 43, and thence through passage 46, chamber 41, hollow shaft 49, and tubing 56 to the surface of the ground; or by the fluid flowing upwardly through nipple l5, chamber I9, passage 3U, perforatlons 28, chamber 33, passage 44, chamber 43, and thence upwardly to tubing 56,

through which the fluid is conveyed to the surface of the ground.

Turning next to Figure 5 for a description of a. modification of my invention, it is to be noted that like parts shown in the drawings, which is a. fragmentary view of the upper portion of my apparatus, and in the other drawings heretofore described carry the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, which may be used advantageously especially when the fluid utilized for actuating pistons 38 and 39 is a. gas, I have provided sleeve 48 with a plurality of ports 85. During the rotation of tubing 56, ports 85 are brought into alignment with a second plurality of ports 86 which are provided in hollow shaft 49. When ports 85 and 86 are in alignment, annular space 58 is brought into communication with the interior of the hollow shaft. The operation of this modification of my invention relative to the lifting of well fluid upwardly from the lower portion of a well bore to the interior of hollow shaft 49 is identical to that of my first embodiment. In this embodiment, however, the rotation of tubing 56 and the hollow shaft, in addition to controlling the admission of pressure fluid to bores 36 and 31 and the exhaust o-f pressure fluid therefrom, aligns ports 86 with ports 85 for a short interval of time. When the ports are in alignment, gas which is utilized as a pressure fluid flows from annular space 58 through ports 85 and 86 to the interior of hollow shaft 49, where the gas enters the stream of well fluid which is being pumped to the surface of the ground and assists in lifting it thereto. It is to be noted that the gas entering the well fluid is at a superior pressure and that the well fluid is prevented from flowing downwardly through the apparatus by check valves 42 and 34.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in simple and practicable form, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereof are representative of other parts or elements which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details described herein, but is to be accorded the full scope and protection of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In well pumping apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a fluid actuated pump mechanism adapted to be lowered into a well bore and including actuating fluid inlet means and outlet means, an outer conduit for supplying actuating fluid to the inlet means, an inner conduit rotatably disposed within the outer conduit for transmitting well fluid and actuating fluid that is discharged from the pump mechanism to the surface of the ground, and means responsive to rotational movement of the inner conduit for controlling the admission and discharge of actuating fluid into and from the pump mechanism.

2. In well pumping apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a fluid actuated pump mechanism adapted to be disposed in a well bore and including valved inlet and outlet means, means for supplying actuating fluid to the pump mechanism, means for transmitting well fluid and actuating fluid that is discharged from the pump mechanism to the surface of the ground, means including cam means for controlling the admission and discharge of actuating .uid into and from the valved inlet and outlet means, respectively.

3. In well pumping 'apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a uid actuated pump mechanism adapted to be disposed in a wel1 bore and including valved inlet and outlet means, means for supplying actuating fluid to the pump mechanism, means for transmitting well fluid and actuating fluid that is discharged from the pump mechanism to the surface of the ground, means including cam means for controlling the-admission and discharge of actuating fluid into and from the valved inlet and outlet means, respectively, the lastI mentioned means being positively operated from the surface of the ground.

4. In well pumping. apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a. fluid actuated pump mechanism adapted to be disposed in a well bore and including valved inlet and outlet means, an outer conduit for supplying actuating fluid to the inlet means,l an inner conduit rotatably disposed within the outer conduit for transmitting well iluid and actuating fluid that is discharged from the pump mechanism to the.:surface of the ground, and caming actuated pump mechanism including fluid inletl and outlet means and valve means associated with the inlet and outlet means, said valve means being movable along a substantially lineal path, an outer conduit for supplying actuating fluid to the inlet means, an inner conduit rotatably disposed within the outer conduit for transmitting well uid and actuating fluid that is discharged from the pump mechanism to the surface of the ground, and means responsive to rotational moveactuated pump mechanism inciuding uuid inlet and outlet means and valve means associated with the inlet and outlet means. said valve means being movable along a substantially'lineal path, an

outer conduit for supplying actuating uid to the 4 `control the flow of actuating fluid through the inlet and outlet means.

7. In well-pumping apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a well bore, an inner and an outer conduit defined in the well bore, a fluid-actuated pump positioned in the well bore and including a pump body, an inlet to the pump body in communication with the pro-v ducing formation of the well, an outlet from the pump body in communication with the inner conduit of the well bore, conduits in the pump body provided for alternate admission and exhaust of actuating fluid supplied thereto', and means operated by movement of said inner conduit adapted to established communication of the actuating fluid conduits alternately with the said inner and outer well'bore conduits.

8. In a well pump apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a fluidactuated piston pump adapted to be positioned in a well bore, an outer conduit in the well bore for e supplying actuatingv fluid tothe pump, a central ment of the inner conduit for imparting lineal A movement to the. valve means to control the admission and discharge of actuating fluid into and from the pump mechanism.

6. In well pumping apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a fluid conduit in the well bore for conveying fluids discharged from the pump to the surface of the ground, pistons disposedfwithin thevpump, each having a well-fluid-displacing side and a fluid pressure actuated side, a channel associated with the displacing side of each piston for admission and discharge of well fluid, a channel associated with the actuated side of each piston for admission and discharge of actuating fluid, valve means HOWARD J. PANKRATZ. 

